Efficient Outdoor Water Use

A recent Metaefficient post offered some ideas for reducing water consumption in your home – but why stop there? Read on to learn about some tips and products that will help you manage water use in outdoor spaces like lawns and gardens. Best of all, you’ll reduce both your environmental impact and utility bills in the process.

Start With Your Lawn

A sprawling, lush lawn can be a major drain (literally) on water resources. Don’t worry, you can still have a beautiful and functional outdoor space – just be smart about it. Remember, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in the US, landscape irrigation consumes over 7 billion gallons of water a day, and a whopping half of that is wasted thanks to over-watering and evaporation.

Water intelligently. Less frequent, heavier waterings will maintain a healthy lawn with less overall water usage. More importantly, this will also encourage deeper root growth, making grass more tolerant of hot, dry spells.

While you’re at it, make sure all that water is actually getting into the ground. Watering early in the morning or late in the evening will help minimize evaporation, as will skipping the watering on windy days.

The Gardena AquaZoom Sprinkler

If you’re using a sprinkler system, avoid overspraying onto sidewalks and driveways – they’re not going to grow any bigger. The Gardena AquaZoom sprinkler ($56.53 at Amazon) features adjustable spray length and width, up to 3,800 square feet of coverage, to help direct water precisely where you need it

Just maintain the lawn space you actually use. Unless you’re hosting polo tournaments, you probably don’t need to maintain huge tracts of grass. Lawn borders in particular are rarely used, but they add a surprising amount of square footage that must be watered and cared for. Consider shrinking your lawn area, and using other landscaping options for purely decorative spaces.

Consider xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is landscaping that requires little or no irrigation, other than natural rainfall. And this doesn’t need to mean “rocks & cactus” either – choosing plantings appropriate for your climate can let you enjoy a colorful, thriving, low-maintenance yard.

Xeriscape Handbook: A How-to Guide to Natural Resource-Wise Gardening

Two great guidebooks to learn about xeriscaping on your property are Xeriscape Handbook: A How-to Guide to Natural Resource-Wise Gardening ($16.47 at Amazon) and The Dry Gardening Handbook: Plants and Practices for a Changing Climate ($37.80 at Amazon).

Landscaping

If your landscaping does require some supplemental watering, make sure you’re watering as efficiently as possible.

Drip…drip…drip. A perforated soaker hose can be a great way to target the spots that need water, while minimizing overwatering and evaporation. The Colorite Earth Quencher Soaker Hose ($29.99 for 100 feet at Amazon) seeps water directly at the base of plants, and it gets extra efficiency points for its water restrictor and recycled tire rubber construction.

Colorite Earth Quencher Recycled-Rubber Soaker Hose

The power of mulch. A 2-4” layer of mulch spread around the base of trees and plants will help retain moisture and reduce evaporation, meaning less watering will be needed. Create a slight depression in the center to further help retain water and prevent runoff.

Rain Is Your Friend.

Rain beats a sprinkler any day. Rainwater is the ideal water source for outdoor plants – it’s free, and contains none of the chlorine found in tap water. Depending on the weather, you might not actually need to do any additional irrigation, so don’t risk over-watering if you don’t have to.

Taylor Precision Rain Gauge

Simple tools like a rain gauge and a soil moisture sensor can give you a good indication whether or not you really need to get the hose out. The Taylor Precision Rain Gauge ($7.62 at Amazon) is simple and easy-to-read, and the Luster Leaf Rapitest 4-in-1 soil tester ($11.55) measures moisture as well as soil acidity, fertilizer levels, and sunlight.

Save it for later. A rain barrel is one of the easiest ways to collect rainwater from your gutters, and use it later when it’s needed. You can easily improvise your own, but the Algreen Cascata 65-Gallon Rain Barrel ($149.99 at Amazon) has a generous capacity, an integrated hose and spigot, and a design that’s downright attractive.

Algreen Cascata 65-Gallon Rain Barrel

For even bigger applications, you can super-size your rainwater usage with a large-scale storage system like the Rainwater Pillow.

Carwash With Care

Using a commercial carwash is generally easier on you and the environment. Commercial carwashes are usually much more efficient than at-home washing, and they often recycle their water. A typical commercial carwash might use around 30 gallons per wash (roughly equivalent to a bath) instead of literally hundreds of gallons when someone lets their hose run in the driveway.

If you need to wash your car yourself, don’t let the water run into the gutter while you scrub. A sprayer like the Dramm 9-Pattern Revolver Hose Nozzle ($12.49 at Amazon) will cut water waste, and give you more oomph when it’s time to rinse. Bonus: its variety of spray patterns make it great for delicate plant watering as well as heavy-duty spraying.

Dramm 9-Pattern Revolver Hose Nozzle

And since you’re using a biodegradable soap (you are, right?) try parking your car on the lawn while washing. The grass will get a watering, and the runoff won’t run into the sewer or evaporate off the driveway.

Sweep, Don’t Spray

For paved areas like patios and driveways, resist the temptation to hose away debris like leaves. A plastic rake or wide push broom will get the job done just as well – and won’t waste a drop of water.

Do you have other suggestions for simple ways to cut household water consumption? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Reduce Your Home's Water Consumption

Reducing household water usage has big-time benefits for both homeowners and for the environment: reducing strain on local water resources, cutting demand on wastewater treatment facilities, and lowering both water and sewage utility bills, to name a few. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, we’ve put together a collection of water-saving tips and products that can help you save money and reduce your environmental footprint.

Best of all, these don’t require major sacrifices or lifestyle changes, they’re just adjustments that make a big difference – sort of the water conservation equivalent of “working smart instead of working hard”.

Basic Maintenance

Small Leaks Can Waste Huge Amouts Of Water

Check your fixtures and pipes. Give your household plumbing a good look. Do you see any leaks, even just tiny drips when a faucet is turned on? All those drops add up. A leaky faucet washer can waste tens of gallons of water per day, so why pay for all that water you aren’t using? Plus, by sealing the leak, you’ll avoid the maintenance nightmare of repairing water damage if the little drip turns into a raging flow.

Check your meter. Take a look at your water meter before you leave home to run your errands, then check it a couple hours later when you return (and you know there has been no water use.) If you see any change on the meter, there’s a leak somewhere. Find it and fix it.

Next Stop: The Kitchen

Reuse kitchen water. Instead of wasting it down the drain, use a pail to collect the water you use for rinsing vegetables or cooking foods like pasta or potatoes. The added nutrients make it great for watering a garden.

Don’t let the water run… and run… Of course, this is good advice in the bathroom too, but it’s especially easy to waste water in the kitchen. Make the effort to turn off the faucet when you don’t need it, even for a couple seconds – the water savings will add up quickly. A faucet pedal makes it even easier to regulate water use when your hands are full. One of our favorites is the Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller ($349 at Amazon)

Pedal Works Hands-Free Faucet Controller

Use the dishwasher. This is an indulgence you can feel good about. A modern, energy-star rated dishwasher loaded to capacity will use less water and energy than hand washing in the sink. And you can generally skip the pre-rinse, further reducing water use.

Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus Dishwasher

Bosch is an industry leader when it comes to efficient dishwashers. The Bosch SHX68E Evolution 800 Plus is extraordinarily energy efficient, and uses just 1.56 gallons of water per cycle. Fair enough, this is the Rolls Royce of dishwashers ($1,732.56 at Amazon) but all major manufacturers now offer their own energy star models.

If you must wash by hand, don’t let the water run constantly. Fill the sink with soapy water, wash the dishes, then refill with rinse water.

Bathrooms

Sorry, baths. Despite the very name of the room, baths are a killer when it comes to household water conservation. Showers use a fraction of the water compared to baths, so avoid the full-on tub soaking whenever possible.

Go low-flow. New low-flow showerheads match the performance of older, wasteful designs, while drastically cutting water consumption. One of the best is the Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead ($29.98 at Amazon), which uses just 1.85 gallons per minute in its low-flow mode, yet maintains impressive water pressure for rinsing.

Delta Water Amplifying Low-Flow Showerhead

Shower smart. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted in the shower, what with all the singing and pondering the mysteries of the universe. But try to keep it short – reducing a shower by just two minutes can easily save 100 gallons of water each month.

A nifty little gadget to help you avoid wasting water by being aware of how much you’re using is the Water Pebble, designed by Paul Priestman. The Water Pebble is placed in a sink or shower, and uses green, yellow, and red indicator lights to give a quick visual reference of how much water is being used. Learn more at the Priestman Goode Design website.

The Water Pebble

And While We’re Talking Bathrooms… Low-flow toilets are good, but toilets with a dual-flush option are even better. One of the best is the Caroma Caravelle ($369 at Amazon) which performs just as well as many older high-flow designs but uses only 0.8 gallons per flush for liquids, or 1.6 gallons for solids – which can translate into annual utility savings of $100 in water-restricted areas.

Caroma Caravelle Dual-Flush Toilet

Finally, don’t use the toilet as a trash can. Even with a low-flow design, flushing a tissue or a cigarette butt is an unnecessary waste of water.

Bring The Rain Indoors

OXO Good Grips Pour & Store Watering Can

Rainwater is great for watering indoor plants. It’s free, and it’s actually better for your plants than using municipal water from the faucet. Rainwater contains no chlorine, and its ambient temperature is easier for plants to tolerate than cold tap water. The OXO Good Grips Pour & Store watering can ($15.50 at Amazon) is great for indoor use, thanks to its ergonomic design and compact folding spout.

Do you have other suggestions for simple ways to cut household water consumption? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Efficient, Eco-Friendly Lawn Care: Reel Mower By Fiskar

April showers might bring May flowers – but they also bring an explosion of lawn growth. Traditional lawn care can rely on some pretty nasty chemicals and smoke-belching machines, but luckily there are alternatives. Read on to learn about some innovative products to keep your lawn beautiful and healthy, while keeping the environment healthy too.

Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower

Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower

Common gas-powered mowers actually produce a stunning amount of air pollution considering their small size, and spilled gasoline is a nasty toxin that has no place in your yard. Plus, both you and your neighbors will appreciate the lack of engine noise on a quiet summer afternoon.

Why It Was Chosen:
The Fiskars Momentum Reel mower is no relic from your grandparents’ garage – it’s a 21st century tool that incorporates several design innovations. A large-diameter reel and heavyweight blades give this mower extra “oomph”, which Fiskars says avoids jamming and reduces cutting effort by 30%. The “Versa-Cut” design allows cutting heights from 1-4”, and inset wheels allow close edge cutting along lawn borders. Finally, the mower promises an ergonomic design and low-friction, low-maintenance blades.

The Fiskars Momentum retails for $249.99. Visit the Fiskars website to locate a local dealer place an order. See also this similar mower by American Lawn Mower for $66.

Eco-Lawn Low Maintenance Grass Seed

Eco-Lawn Low Maintenance Grass Seed

If you’re creating a new lawn space, remember that certain types of grass require much less maintenance and fertilization than others. Choosing the right seed will save you time and money down the road, and help avoid the need for fertilizers and watering.

Why It Was Chosen:
Wildflower Farm has developed a proprietary blend of fescue grasses that it claims have several major advantages over the common blends you’d find at your local garden center. Eco-Lawn Grass Seed is said to be drought-resistant and both sun- and shade-tolerant. The manufacturer also states that Eco-Lawn grows well in virtually any soil type with no added fertilizers, and it grows so slowly that it requires mowing just once a month.

Learn more or order Eco-Lawn at the Eartheasy website. A 5-lb. bag (enough for 1,000 square feet of coverage) retails for $27.95.

Bradfield Organics Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten

Bradfield Organics Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten

Fertilizing and weed control can be a constant battle for homeowners – but who wants to create a perfect-looking lawn that’s too toxic to enjoy? Corn gluten, a non-toxic byproduct of the corn milling process, is an effective pre-emergent weed suppressant and nitrogen supplement.

Why It Was Chosen:
Luscious Lawn from Bradford Organics blocks weed germination by drying the weed seeds before they sprout. When spread in the spring and fall, it is effective against a wide range of common yard weeds, including dandelions, crabgrass, and clover. Its 9% nitrogen content means it can be also be used year round as a fertilizer supplement. Luscious Lawn is a granulated form of corn gluten, which is versatile for use in a fertilizer spreader or broadcasting by hand.

A 40-lb. bag of Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten (enough to treat approximately 2,000 sq. ft.) is available from Amazon for $49.99.

Rainwater Pillow Rainwater Collection Bladder

Rainwater Pillow Rainwater Collection Bladder

Watering is a key part of keeping your lawn healthy, but using municipal tap water to irrigate your yard can be expensive and strain local resources. Utilizing collected rainwater is free, plus it reduces the amount of wastewater that treatment plants need to process after a storm.

Why It Was Chosen:
The Rainwater Pillow is a big step up from a simple rain collection barrel. The standard version of this flexible storage bladder has a 1,000 gallon capacity and measures 9’ x 11’ x 2.5’, making it the perfect size for underneath a deck. It features debris filters and an integrated electric pump, so it can be used with standard garden hoses and sprinkler systems.

The Rainwater Pillow is an investment, but over time it can substantially reduce your utility costs and environmental footprint. The complete 1,000-gallon system is available for $2,500. Check out the MetaEfficient profile of the Rainwater Pillow, or visit the Rainwater Pillow website for more information.

Luster Leaf 1818 Rapitest Mini 4-in-1 Soil Tester

Luster Leaf 1818 Rapitest Mini 4-in-1 Soil Tester

Before you start tinkering with water levels or soil chemistry, you need to know what you’re dealing with. A simple soil tester will let you know which aspects of your lawn are already healthy, and point out what needs attention.

Why It Was Chosen:
The Luster Leaf Rapitest 4-in-1 Soil Tester is a quick and effective way to measure four key elements of your lawn: moisture levels, soil acidity, light levels, and fertility. It requires no batteries, and includes information on ideal levels for over 150 plants.

You can find the Luster Leaf 4-in-1 Soil Tester at Amazon for $11.63.

Let us know if you have experience with any of these products by leaving a comment below.

Green roofs have seen a surge in popularity recently as sustainable building designs become more mainstream. Soil and plantings on a building’s rooftop can help manage water runoff, improve air quality, and reduce energy use by moderating indoor temperatures. They can also prolong the life of a building’s roof by protecting it from the wear and tear of wind, water, and UV rays. But a truly efficient green roof requires a dedicated design to ensure proper drainage and healthy vegetation without compromising the underlying roof structure, as well as a growing medium that is more stable and lightweight than normal soil.

Green roofs can be modular systems (typically arrays of trays containing all the vegetation and necessary drainage structures), or they may be permanent designs grown directly on the rooftop. Designs can be either “extensive” (thin and lightweight layers of plantings focusing on function over aesthetics) or “intensive” (more substantial landscapings or roof gardens, usually involving thicker layers of growing medium up to 12” deep).

Here is a look at some features and advantages of three popular types of systems currently on the market.

Xero Flor Green Roof System

3,500 SqFt. Xero Flor Green Roof at Michigan State University (image: Xero Flor)

A green roof isn’t quite as simple as merely rolling out some sod, but the Xero Flor system comes close. An impermeable base layer is installed first to protect the rooftop, then a layer of nylon filaments is added on top of the base layer to allow drainage and water flow. A fleece fabric layer comes next to retain water for the plantings, and finally a layer of Xero Terr growing medium for the pre-vegetated sedum and moss mats that are rolled out on top.

Minimal thickness designs mean only certain hardy plantings can thrive, and any continuous system like this can make it difficult to access the roof below if repairs are needed. But a functional system like Xero Flor provides all the benefits of a green roof without adding unnecessary weight to the roof structure, even when it’s fully saturated.

More details are available at the Xero Flor website.

GreenGrid Green Roof System

GreenGrid Green Roof System (image: Weston Solutions, Inc.)

A modular design like the Weston GreenGrid system offers added flexibility and convenience to a green roof. Pre-planted trays are available in thicknesses ranging from 2.5” to 8”, depending on foliage choice and weight limitations. As long as the building’s structure can support the added weight, the modules can be placed directly on a roof’s existing membrane.

The trays are constructed of UV-resistant recycled plastic, and they can be easily moved or rearranged to accommodate roof repairs or design changes. However, modular designs may not be considered as aesthetically attractive as permanent plantings, and the individual trays of some systems may not be able to handle drainage quite as effectively as continuous systems.

You can find the GreenGrid Roofs website here.

LiveRoof Green Roof System

LiveRoof Green Roof System (image: LiveRoof, LLC)

LiveRoof LLC has developed a hybrid system that offers the convenience and flexibility of a modular system with the complete coverage of a whole-roof design. Pre-vegetated modules are transported to the job site with removable edging; once the modules are fitted together, the edging is removed to create a continuous layer of soil. Although this system isn’t quite as flexible as self-contained trays once it’s installed, sections can still be removed for roof access if necessary. The continuous layer of plantings allows for drainage and root growth, and also provides gap-free insulation for the roof.

Learn more at the LiveRoof website.

Do you have firsthand experience with these (or any other) green roof systems? Leave a comment below and let us know!

The Rainwater Pillow (photo: Rainwater Collection Systems, Inc.)

Utilizing rainwater runoff is a double bonus for homeowners, both in environmental and financial terms.  It reduces the amount of water consumed from the municipal system, and it lessens the strain on wastewater treatment facilities that must process water after it flows down the drain.  A rain barrel is great for small-scale applications like a flower garden, and now there is an option for large-scale rainwater collection without the need for a traditional cistern:  the Rainwater Pillow.

The Rainwater Pillow system consists of an intake filter connected to a flexible water storage bladder, and an outflow hose powered by a small integrated pump.  The standard 1,000-gallon Rainwater Pillow measures 9’ x 11’ x 2.5’, and it can be positioned in any convenient spot (such as underneath a deck).  Custom designs are also available for larger applications (up to 40,000-gallon capacity) and also for potable water systems.  According to the manufacturer, a roof measuring 40’ x 40’ would provide enough runoff during one inch of rainfall to fill the 1,000-gallon Pillow.

Rainwater Pillow System (photo: Rainwater Collection Systems, Inc.)

In a typical setup, pipes connect downspouts to the filter connection, which screens out any leaves or debris.  Redundant overflow pipes prevent the Pillow from bursting when it reaches its capacity.  The manufacturer states that the Pillow can safely store water for up to five years, and the reinforced polymer alloy material is resistant to both UV rays and temperature extremes. The outflow pump provides adequate water pressure for uses like lawn irrigation, and the system even features a remote pump control in case the pillow is positioned in a hard-to-reach spot.

The Rainwater Pillow isn’t exactly cheap (prices start at $2,500 for the complete 1,000-gallon system) but a large-scale rainwater collection system like this could substantially reduce both your utility costs and your environmental footprint.  Learn more at the Rainwater Pillow website.

Bank of America Tower, Greenest Skyscraper In The U.S. (photo: BoA)

A while back, MetaEfficient profiled what could be the greenest skyscraper in America, the Bank of America Tower in New York City. Located in midtown Manhattan at One Bryant Park, the 945-foot tall, 55-story structure is scheduled to open later this year. Here’s a closer look at some of the groundbreaking features that should help the building earn a coveted LEED Platinum designation.

In addition to making extensive use of low-VOC construction materials and recycled products like steel and drywall, the BoA Tower is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Power demand is reduced for lighting and climate-control systems thanks to high-transparency, low-e glass (that’s low emissivity, meaning heat bounces off the glass instead of being conducted through, while still allowing illumination from sunlight). The air-conditioning system produces ice at night, when municipal power demand is at its lowest, then stores it for daytime cooling use. And a highly efficient 5.1-megawatt combined cycle electrical generation facility within the building reduces its need for municipal grid power.

Air quality inside the BoA Tower is a top priority, with a filtration system that eliminates 95% of particulate pollution. Air is drawn inside at least 100 feet above street level, filtered, and distributed to individual floors where it gets a second filtration. As a result, exhaust air from the building is actually much cleaner than the surrounding ambient city air.

Bank of America Tower, New York City (photo: BoA)

Water use is revolutionary for a building of this size, especially by U.S. standards. Rain is collected on all roof areas, and storage tanks can hold up to 269,000 gallons of rainwater, meaning zero storm water goes into city sewers. Collected water is used for toilets and plant irrigation, saving over 10 million gallons of potable water annually; low flow fixtures and waterless urinals further reduce water use, and a graywater treatment plant in the cellar provides water for the building’s cooling tower.

Green architecture has officially arrived in New York City. And if it can make it there, as the old song goes, it can make it anywhere. When the Bank of America Tower opens this year, it will serve as an illustration of how sustainable design and green technologies can be applied to projects on a massive scale.

(via Bank of America)

Our buildings and homes could capture all water we need on a daily basis. A great example of rainwater harvesting can be found at the Langston Brown Community Center and High School in Arlington, Virginia. The community center has two 24-foot-tall 11,000-gallon cisterns that store rainwater.

The tank at the front of the school is covered with panels, and fits seamlessly into the overall design of the building.

The building captures 280,000 gallons of water a year. Regrettably, the rainwater is only used for onsite irrigation, sidewalk washing, and other non-potable uses. However, the center does have waterless urinals which result in a 23% reduction in potable water use.

Nearby in Maryland, the Philip Merrill building (headquarters of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation), captures even more rainwater — 402,461 gallons a year — the rain provides almost all the water used in the building.

All the details of the green elements of the community center can be found here.

A good book about rainwater harvesting case studies is Design For Water by Heather Kinkade-Levario.

The average roof sheds 160 gallons of rainwater per hour during a moderate rain fall. Rainwater is better for your garden than tap water: it is at ambient temperature rather than being cold, and it is not chlorinated or treated with chemicals.

The Garden Water Saver, is a device that attaches to your home’s downspout, and allows you to use any container as a rainwater barrel. It diverts rainwater until the container becomes full, and then it automatically shuts off. It will fill a 55 gallon rain barrel in 2 to 3 hours during a moderate rainfall. The kit is available for $19.95 from Garden Water Saver.

Unfortunately, most rainwater tanks and cisterns are unsightly blocks of concrete or plastic. The LUMI Rainwater Tank, however, was designed by Katrina Logan to be visually appealing. It’s made of sculptural satin acrylic and can be made in a range of colors and sizes (250 liters – 1100 liters). The tank glows in the sunlight, making the rainwater reserves visible, and has internal lights that illuminate the tank in the evening.

Often, architects try to conceal and disguise water tanks on the side of the house or with various landscaping techniques, but Logan’s design eliminates the ugliness of common storage tanks. In the LUMI, she’s successfully targeting the inner city design community. And early in October 2006, she received The City of Melbourne Sustainability Design Award.

Via: Jetson Green

We recommend rain water as one of the purest waters for baths and pools. Even in cities, rain can be purified easily. Most pollution falls in the first three minutes and the rest of the water can simply be filtered to a level where it will rival the purity of spring water or bottled water.

See more information about heating water efficiently and here’s how to catch the rain.